“World Day Against Child Labour” is observed today on 12th June

The theme for 2019 is “Children shouldn’t work in fields, but on dreams!”

The World Day Against Child Labor will be observed today (12th June) to raise awareness about the plight of child laborers worldwide.

The day aims to shed light on the problem of child labor, highlighting the need of defeat any form of economic exploitation of children.

Past editions have underlined the importance of education, which is key to accessing respectable forms of employment in adulthood.

The world Day against Child Labor enjoys wide support by the governments, labor organizations, UN agencies and various other private and semi government organizations throughout the world.

World Day Against Child Labor 18th edition in 2019

The main theme of the World Day against Child Labor 2019 is “Children shouldn’t work in fields, but on dreams”

Its main aim will be to work for the development of children working in agriculture sector throughout the world

This year the International Labor Organization calls for the complete acceptance of convention numbers 138 and 182 by all its member states

It will be also aimed at promoting the 2014 convention against forced labor which protects the rights of both children and adults

Many programs and events will be conducted across the globe on the occasion to raise awareness on the rights of the children

Child activists across the world will emphasize to stop child labor and to promote education of the children

What is “Child Labor” according to International Labor Organization?

International Labor Organization specifically defines child labor as – “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental health”

Though, the work that makes children skilled and instills positive development in them is not considered as child labor. However, such work shouldn’t deprive the children of their right to education and a dignified living

It also defines child labor as a work which has physically, mentally and socially damaging consequences on the children

Any work interfering with the schooling of the children is also termed as child labor and is broadly categorized into three forms

(i) Work depriving the children of the opportunity to attend school

(ii) Work that obliges the children to leave school at an early age and

(iii) Work that requires the children to attend school along with heavy work load

What is International Labor Organization?

The International Labor Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social justice and promote decent work by setting international labor standards

It was the first specialized agency of the UN. The ILO has 187 member states: 186 of the 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands are members of the ILO

The tripartite structure is unique to the ILO where representatives from the government, employers and employees openly debate and create labor standards

In 1969, the ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving fraternity and peace among nations, pursuing decent work and justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing nations India and World